Monday, January 14, 2013

Hey there!! Hope you had a great weekend! We got a lot done which always feels good. We got so much done that I was laying down yesterday afternoon, contemplating a nap…but this project kept nagging at me. I’ve been wanting to get this done FOREVER.

And now it is. Done. ;)

I’ve shown you our foyer a million times, most recently right around Thanksgiving:

I’ve mentioned once or a hundred times that I wanted to paint that buffet. I am tired of all the black dressers in our house! Thing is, many of them have come from the same source. I bought this one and at least one other from a Craigslist seller. She finds some great pieces and paints them all black.

The one in my office will stay black, just because I love it so very much as is. This one in the foyer just needed something, especially right by that black front door.

So something it got…in the form of Aubusson Blue chalk paint:

I have loved this color from the first time I saw it last year and knew I wanted to use it in my house somewhere. I’m pretty much obsessed with deep, rich blues right now. Which is funny because five years ago you couldn’t find blue anywhere around here.

The great thing about chalk paint is the no sanding/no priming part. I did sand this down a bit though, because the paint was really rough in some spots -- it’s always bothered me:

I hate sanding but I did it super fast – like two minutes for the whole piece – just the spots that felt rough on the doors and drawer fronts.

After a wipe down, I was ready to go and was super excited to see how well the paint went on:

I realized pretty quick I was going to get away with just one coat and I was stoked! Whoo!! Thing is, I wasn’t perfect about it – I didn’t mind seeing a hint of the black coming through. That was my goal really. I did a good coat, and if I was a perfectionist I would have gone back for another, but I’m not. So I didn’t. :)

I decided to rough up the top with sandpaper too, because I keep a lot of my tools in this dresser and I am not gentle to the top of it:

I figured a quick sanding never hurts. I did just one coat of the blue on the top too. I was thinking of some fun way to do the dresser – maybe two tone, maybe sanding down the top and staining it…but I just wanted this done and really? I’m just a simple girl at heart. Paint it and done.

Well, paint it and then wax it that is. I have tried both the Annie Sloan and CeCe Caldwell wax and I like the latter just a bit more –- it’s just a tad lighter and easier to work with in my opinion:

I wiped it on (like I showed you here) and then buffed it off well – but I think too well. The top is still chalky when stuff hits it so I need at least one more good coat. I’m always afraid to leave any kind of film for fear it won’t dry well, so I take a lot off.

Here’s the deal. This chalk paint stuff is expensive. But get this…it lasts forEVER. And I can promise you there is NO way I would have been able to cover something like this with one coat in regular latex. Just no way.

Here’s proof that it lasts forever – this is all I used:

You can compare that to the pic of the new paint can above. Go ahead. I’ll wait.

Crazy eh? So in my mind, the ease of use (no primer) and the great coverage makes it worth it to me to splurge every once and a while. Now I just need to decide what else I’m painting this color! :)

I absolutely ADORE how it came out:

It’s fun and pretty and I love it in the foyer – it makes me happy that visitors will see this first thing when the walk in!

I did quite a bit of distressing, just so it didn’t look perfect – cause things don’t stay perfect around here anyway so I just helped it along. I just did the edges and raised parts with some sand paper – the areas that normally get wear over time.

I pulled from all over the house to accessorize:

I want to redo that whole gallery above the dresser, but it’s funny how well that blue ties in to the art above. I did a super fast coat of the blue on the bottom frame to ground that a little bit too.

It's funny that you said you want to change the flooring - when I got to the 'after' photo the first thing I noticed was how different that color made your floors look (even scrolled back to be sure). Whatever you choose will be stunning no doubt. I'm coining a new term from this - Urban Beach - because it does feel refreshing but not in a sand between my toes kinda way (which is good!). ~ Dee @deeconstructed.com

Wow! I didn't realize that you could re-do wood in chalk paint. I will have to keep that in mind. We just got a table and chairs off of Craigslist that I have big plans for, but I was going to use enamel based paint. I will have to think about this idea!

I haven't used that color yet, but now I might have to. In your opinion you think the CeCe Caldwell wax is better than Annie Sloan wax? Does it go on better? If so I might have to get some.Wonderful colors and love how it all coordinates!!

ABSOLUTELY love the way the dresser turned out! Off the subject I am trying to style me sofa table. I noticed your plant. Is it real or artificial? I want to incorporate some greenery but not sure which to use! Thanks! And great job again!!!

It looks awesome! That color is perfect in there. I have made chalk paint, the recipe with grout, paint and water. It works really well, but I wouldn't use it very often as it is super chalky and flakes off pretty easily. I haven't worked a ton with it, but that was my first impression. It would be great for frames and other items that won't get a lot of wear and tear.

Love that color!! What a great pop of color for your entry, and it blends beautifully with your artwork - bonus!

I haven't yet tried chalk paint, but it's on my list of to-do's! I had to giggle at your comment about not having blue in your house five years ago - I was the same way. Now I can't get enough of it - I have blue all over the place! I just can't stop being drawn to the blue hues!!

Love this! I wanted to let you know that everytime I try to read your blog in Google Reader, when I click it comes up as a virus trying to attack my computer. So I now have to access your blog through Google search. I should note that it doesn't happen when I click on the other blogs I read in Reader. Thought you should know, not sure if it is a system thing or my computer but its strange that it only does that for your blog. I miss seeing your posts bc I am usually too lazy to go to Google.Yes, I know.I will subscribe. :)

It looks amazing - love it! I get the virus message too when clicking on your blog. It says my AVG contained the virus. Then I have to click out of your blog, then click back again and it will go that time. The only other blog I get the same message from is The Nester. It has happened for about a week. Today was the first time it didn't happen.

I have heard so many times how great AS is, and this just proves it. One coat for that black piece and yes, I scrolled up to see the other can right before I read to. Amazing. I am going to have to get some after all. Love the blue.

Hi Sarah! I'm so excited you just did another post on the chalk paint, it looks awesome! I am in the process of redoing my front room and need to paint an end table, chair, and lamp. I purchased a table painted with the ASCP and love it. :) Now I just need to decide which color to paint the rest. I'm so glad to see it's so easy to work with!! :)

I simply adore that color of blue, too! However, instead of a furniture piece I bought a pair of slacks that color over the holidays - they called the color "London Blue." Hubby thought I was crazy until he saw them on me accessorized with a black jacket, now he loves them. Now that I've seen your dresser, I'm over the moon! What will he think if I start painting things that color, too? We'll have to wait and see!

Oooooh I like this color! My ASCP sample sheet just doesn't do those colors justice. I've done 2 pieces in chalk paint and am itching to get at a third piece but have been hesitant on my color choice. I think you just solved my dilemma!

I'm totally into blues in general. It started with a soft beach-y blue, then morphed to turquoise, and now I'm loving the darker blues. Have been planning a dark blue furniture project myself. I'm more of a glossy paint girl, so I'll pass up the chalk paint. Love how the blue livens up your entry, and how it ties in so well with your artwork. Great choice!

The transformation is awesome and such a great color! I've been wanting to paint a buffet that I have but the doors already close tightly and I'm worried that painting a coat of paint on it will cause the paint to scratch off over time or that the doors won't close. Would I just sand down the doors enough to give it some wiggle room before painting? I like the fact that this kind of paint goes on in one coat. Thanks for sharing!

Um yes. It looks amazing. The whole setup. Hey, so I've been thinking about jumping on the chalk paint bandwagon, but I read something the other day about fingerprints leaving nasty greasy marks that are impossible to remove. Have you had issues with that at all? Or maybe a good coat of the wax takes care of the problem? With three kids, greasy fingerprints are unavoidable, but at least with regular paint, they can be cleaned up.

I've been visiting you for a few years, and don't comment often, but MUST tell you how lovely this is! I'm not normally a blue fan (in decor), I even panicked a little at the thought of "defacing" your perfect-in-that-spot black buffet. But, you have made me see the (blue) light!! What a GORGEOUS vignette, and INSPIRED transformation! I'm off to drive 35 miles to buy some ASCP. ;-)

I love the combination of the dark blue and springy green! It's so unique and fresh. I've been wanting to use chalk paint on something forever, but I just haven't found any furniture that needs painting. At the first sign of scratches on a piece of furniture, it's on!

I love it! It's such a nice color. I too like the distressed look...it definitely helps to camouflage little imperfections that happen over time. That's also why I like a light layer of glaze too (helps hide dirt haha).

I fell in love with this color the second I saw it too last spring! I bought it and have since painted exactly one frame with it. My MIL just gave me a beautiful dresser for Christmas that is sitting in my foyer too awaiting a makeover. I've been gathering samples and ideas but you just inspired me to use what I already have onhand! So beautiful!!

I have not yet tried either ASCP or CeCe Caldwell's. I have made my own chalk paint and have liked the results. But call me nuts, when I paint an item I want it to look fresh and new annnnnnnd...not distressed.

Love this! The color turned out perfect, and it goes so well with the green frame, so spring. I have a love/hate relationship with chalk paint, love that there is no sanding and priming, but hate the wax, plus, I find that it marks way too easily. I recently used BM Regal line in Matte, it goes on like chalk paint, and drieS beautifully, without wax or any other protective coat, plus, it's way cheaper then chalk paint.

Looks awesome! I love how it turned out. The color is so fresh and looks great in your entry.

I painted my coffee table in Aubusson blue last year, but used dark wax over it to tone down the color (I have gray/blue walls in my living room, so the bright was a little too much). I could go nuts with this color!! If you want to take a look, check out this link http://lilacsandlonghorns.blogspot.com/p/diy-projects.html I LOVE Annie Sloan paint...have sooo many projects I'd like to do!

BTW...I have made my own chalk paint with plaster of paris before...it's really chalk BOARD paint and not at all like ASCP. If there's a formula for something like ASCP I haven't tried it. Also...thanks for the info about CeCe's wax...that's good to know. I almost bought some of her paint the other day but then decided against it. Now I just might go back and try some! :)

@TDC do you think the black base influenced the color blue that you ended up with? I ask because I want to use this same color on my office kitchen cabinets which are currently oak but I'd like to end up with a result closer to what you have here. What do you think? Should I use a dark priming color first?

Good question -- I don't think it made a big difference because the paint is so saturated. You could always just paint some on and see how it covers and then decide. But I don't think you'll need a primer. Good luck!

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